May 28, 2011

Turntable spins for social music sharing

This week I've been hanging out on Turntable.fm, a new social music site. Its a very simple and addictive way to share and listen to music with others. In rooms you join or create, you turns DJing songs from an extensive music library or uploading your own. People can vote a song Awesome or Lame. If its too lame, it skips to the next DJ. If awesome, the DJ gets points that lets them upgrade their avatar.

As simple as it sounds, rooms get a vibe going that is re-inforced by the pressure for DJs to play into it. I've discovered a ton of music, and its easy to save into your Turnable queue, Spotify or iTunes (for purchase). During the day, instead of having people at the office burried in their own earbuds, we set up an office room, with people sharing while heads down on work. At night, I've managed to coax in some of my friends who always shared the best music, and they've gotten sucked in quickly. At least to listen.

When news broke last night that poet and musician Gil Scott-Heron passed away, I set up a room to play his music and a couple of people quickly joined. Unfortunately we ran into a licensing restriction after a few plays, but it gave a hint at a different kind of shared experience that is now possible.

Turntable is brand new, and to get in you have to be connected to someone on Facebook that is already in. But they've managed to make a simple game out of sharing music that unfolds into an enjoyable social experience you should have.

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Turntable spins for social music sharing

This week I've been hanging out on Turntable.fm, a new social music site. Its a very simple and addictive way to share and listen to music with others. In rooms you join or create, you turns DJing songs from an extensive music library or uploading your own. People can vote a song Awesome or Lame. If its too lame, it skips to the next DJ. If awesome, the DJ gets points that lets them upgrade their avatar.

As simple as it sounds, rooms get a vibe going that is re-inforced by the pressure for DJs to play into it. I've discovered a ton of music, and its easy to save into your Turnable queue, Spotify or iTunes (for purchase). During the day, instead of having people at the office burried in their own earbuds, we set up an office room, with people sharing while heads down on work. At night, I've managed to coax in some of my friends who always shared the best music, and they've gotten sucked in quickly. At least to listen.

When news broke last night that poet and musician Gil Scott-Heron passed away, I set up a room to play his music and a couple of people quickly joined. Unfortunately we ran into a licensing restriction after a few plays, but it gave a hint at a different kind of shared experience that is now possible.

Turntable is brand new, and to get in you have to be connected to someone on Facebook that is already in. But they've managed to make a simple game out of sharing music that unfolds into an enjoyable social experience you should have.